Všetaty: Memorial Sites and Local History

Všetaty offers several clearly distinct cultural and historical themes: the memory of Jan Palach, the Church of St. Peter and Paul with its historic furnishings, firefighting equipment at the Florián Museum, and a nativity scene that recalls onion growing. This lets you choose the focus of your stay. The range spans the 20th century, church objects, and local craft and agricultural traditions. There is also a special lowland fen habitat to explore.

Jan Palach and Other Memorial Sites

The Jan Palach Memorial was established by converting the Palach family’s original home. An exhibition presents Jan Palach’s life and actions in the context of events in the 20th century. This gives you two related perspectives: the connection to the former family home and the historical context of his actions. The monument to Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk stands in the Jana Palacha Gardens on the main street named after Masaryk. The memorial and the monument offer different points of reference: Jan Palach and the events of the 20th century on the one hand, and Masaryk on the other.

Church of St. Peter and Paul: Building and Furnishings

The Church of St. Peter and Paul in Všetaty dates back to 1348. Two furnishings with more precise dates add to this picture. The smallest bell dates from 1490 and is among the oldest in Bohemia; an elaborately decorated tin baptismal font was cast in 1595. The dates 1348, 1490, and 1595 refer to different things: the first is the date of the church, while the later dates refer to the bell and the baptismal font. This helps distinguish the church’s date from that of its later furnishings. The baptismal font is notable for its material and decoration; the bell stands out both for its date and for being among the oldest in Bohemia.

Firefighting Equipment at the Florián Museum

The Florián Fire Museum displays firefighting equipment from its beginnings to the present day. This broad time span differs from the individual, precisely dated objects in the church: the museum focuses on the development of technical equipment across different periods. The museum has no regular opening hours; visits can be arranged by telephone or email. If you would like to include it in your stay, arrange your visit in advance by telephone or email.

Onion Growers’ Nativity Scene and Local Tradition

The Onion Growers’ Nativity Scene was created in 1943–1944 by professional woodcarver Danián Pešan. Almost every one of the 19 figures carries an onion, recalling the local onion-growing tradition. The nativity scene can therefore be viewed in two ways: as a dated work by a woodcarver and as a depiction whose recurring motif points to a local tradition. The date of its creation and its motif answer different questions—when the work was made and which tradition it draws on.

A Special Lowland Fen Habitat

The Všetatská černava adds a distinctive natural area to the cultural and historical themes. It comprises calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the Caricion davallianae alliance. These habitats are associated with specially protected and rare plant and animal species. The focus here is on the habitat and its community of species, rather than individual dated objects or historical figures. This distinction may help you choose the thematic focus of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Cítov, Neratovice, Želízy, Hořín, Kralupy Nad Vltavou, Lužec Nad Vltavou, Kly, Velký Borek

For the overview of the wider area: Mělník District.